Monday, September 24, 2007

So Are the Toys Safe or Not?




How many times did we discuss in class yet one more Mattel recall of toys made in China? Mattel ordered three high-profile recalls this summer involving more than 21 million Chinese-made toys, including Barbie doll accessories, Thomas and the ever so popular, Polly Pocket. The slew of Chinese-made toys since June by Mattel resulted in many parents shopping for U.S.-made label stamped on playthings at toy stores. That is no easy task when more than 80 percent of toys sold in the U.S. are made in China.

So the mistake had to come from China, right? Or was it?
Then why did this happen? Is the mistake China? The U.S. Toy manufacturer? Or maybe both?

The recalls have prompted complaints from China that manufacturers were being blamed for design faults by Mattel itself. What? You mean that maybe part of this massive recall was the fault of the actual toy company itself?

On Friday,Thomas A. Debrowski, Mattel's executive vice president for worldwide operations, attended a meeting with Chinese product safety. Debrowski acknowledged that "vast majority of those products that were recalled were the result of a design flaw in Mattel's design, not through a manufacturing flaw in China's manufacturers."

Lead-tainted toys accounted for only a small percentage of all toys recalled, he said, adding that: "We understand and appreciate deeply the issues that this has caused for the reputation of Chinese manufacturers."

In fact, new research from two business professors shows that recalls due to problems with the U.S. maker's design accounted for the vast majority -- about 76 percent -- of the 550 U.S.toy recalls since 1988.

"Nobody gets a free ride on this" Some argue that toy makers' obsession and pressure to quickly get new products to market before they are widely copied has resulted in a lot of cost-cutting and inadequate testing. The end result, what just happened, toys hitting the market that are not the quality we expect for our children.

In a statement issued by the company Friday, Mattel said its lead-related recalls were "overly inclusive, including toys that may not have had lead in paint in excess of the U.S. standards.

So, now what? The holidays are fast approaching and parents will be making their way to the stores to buy more toys. How has this article effected your opinion of the toys we put in the hands of children? Who do you feel is responsible for the safety of consumers, especially our children? Go home and look at some of the toys that are still sitting in your household. In your opinion are these toys safe? Come to class ready to talk about your ideas for the next big toy idea for Christmas 2007. Let the games begin.

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